Method of forming alloys



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PORTER H. BRACE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC &; MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF FORMING ALLOYS.

No Drawing. Application filed April 18,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PORTER H. BRAoE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh in the county of Allegheny and State of liennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of Forming Alloys, of which the following is a s ecification.

y invention relates to a method of forming alloys and more particularly alloys of nickel with tantalum, columbium or other metals of the tantalum group.

Heretofore, considerable difficulty has been met with in forming alloys of this character because of the marked afiinity which the tantalum or its equivalent metal has for oxygen and nitrogen. On account of the readiness with which the tantalum will combine with oxygen and nitrogen and also be cause of the high temperatures required to melt the tantalum, it has previously been necessary to perform the entire process in vacuo, with the result that commercial production was almost prohibitive.

The primar object of my invention resides in providing a method of forming alloys of this character such that only a portion of the operation need be carried out in 'vacuo and such as will materially reduce the workin temperatures required.

I have ound that alloys of nickel and tantalum or a metal of the tantalum group may be readily formed, in any desired proportions, by reducing mixed oxids of the metals employed, to form carbids, and by subsequently melting the carbids, thus f formed, in vacuo.

nace, the atmosphere of which is reducing,

In practising my invention, I may mix suitable proportions of nickel oxid and an oxid of a metal of the tantalum group, as, for example, tantalum oxidin suitable proportions, dependent upon the relative pro portions of the tantalum and nickel desired in the alloy. may then fuse'the mixed 'oxids,1with an excess of carbon, in a fur as, for example, a carbon-resistance electric furnace, to form carbids of the metals. these carbids have relatively slight aflinity for oxygen and nitrogen, this operation need not be performed in vacuo.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

1919. Serial No. 291,034.

After the mixture of the metallic carbids has been formed, they may be melted in cacao in the presence of tantalum oxid in suflicient quantities to remove the carbon and any gaseous impurities. This melting in oacuo of the mixed brittle carbids, provided by the previous step of the process, yields a silve1y-white,malleable alloy of nickel and tantalum.

Although I have described my invention in connection with the production of nickel and tantalum alloys, it will be appreciated that it may be employed in the formation of all alloys to which it is adaptable and it will also be understood that any changes, which may seem desirable, may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of forming metallic alloys which comprises mixing oxids of the metals to be alloyed, reducing them with an excess of carbon'to form carbids, and subsequently melting the carbids in cacao in the presence of an oxid of one of the metals.

2. The method of forming an alloy of nickel and a metal of the tantalum group which comprises forminga mixture of the oxids of the metals, reducing the oxids with an excess of carbon to provide carbids and melting the carbids in oacuo in the presence of an oxid of the metal of the tantalum' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 8rd day of April, 1919.

PORTER H. BRACE. 

